The President says we need to treat drugs as a medical problem. Gee I didn’t know they were sick. Is there a plant pathologist in the room?
Today, in response to a video question from a former deputy sheriff about whether it is time to discuss legalizing and regulating drugs in light of the failure of the “war on drugs,” President Barack Obama said that it is “an entirely legitimate topic for debate” but that he is not in favor of legalization.
The President then went on to say that he sees drug abuse as a public health issue and that a shifting of resources is required, away from the traditional approach of incarcerating nonviolent drug offenders.
That is what he talks about. What is he actually doing?
“The president talks a good game about shifting resources and having a balanced, public health-oriented approach, but it doesn’t square with the budgets he’s submitted to Congress,” said Neill Franklin, a retired Baltimore narcotics cop and executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a group of cops, judges and prosecutors who support legalizing and regulating drugs. “The Obama administration has maintained the Bush-era two-to-one budget ratio in favor of prisons and prosecution over treatment and prevention. It doesn’t add up.
Is this another WTF? moment for the President? As S. Palin says: “…a lot of WTF moments throughout that speech”. And it was such a short one too.
Cross Posted at Power and Control
Comments
2 responses to “Drugs Make Obama Smile”
The WOD aka The Full Employment Act for Police, Prosecutors, Judges, Prison Guards and Parole Officers. Sensible drug law reform just isn’t in the works when so many government employees are fed from this particular gravy train.
Democrats make this observation in public from time to time, but they won’t risk a groat of their political capital to change the drug laws.
I remember Bill Clinton saying the same thing after he left office. Where had he been for the previous eight years? Obama is in office, buttt he won’t lift a finger in this direction beyond expecting praise for making the observation.